FEATURE: ‘Bookstore of Taiwan’ fights China headwinds

ALL OR NOTHING:Wu Cheng-san was inspired to open Taiuan-e-tiam by a vendor who sold banned books at protests. He says the new service pact threatens Taiwan’s culture

By Liu Yan-fu
and Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Lo and Ma Yung-cheng were both participants in the six-day movement, which was launched in a bid to force government leaders to advance political reforms

“The scariest part of the service trade agreement is not the possibility that it could drive local bookstores out of business, but the likelihood that it could destroy the fundamental values of Taiwanese culture, the protection of which has been the sole purpose of Taiuan-e-tiam’s existence,” Wu said.

However, Wu refuses to yield to Chinese pressure. He has sought to beef up his store’s competitiveness by allowing readers to shop online and starting a Facebook page to share information about the latest publications.

He also plans to invite young comic artists to base in the bookstore to create comic pieces featuring Taiwanese history and culture.

“As Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水) said when he founded the Taiwan Cultural Association in 1920: ‘You should either give it your all or give up,’” Wu said.